Key Votes

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Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.

For more information about the legislative process, see here.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
March 1, 2021 NC SB 43 Establishes Churches With Schools Have the Right to Bear Arms Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
March 1, 2021 MT SB 215 Limits State and Local Governmental Authority Over a Religious Activity Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
March 1, 2021 WA HB 1411 Prohibits the Automatic Disqualification of Individuals with Criminal Records from Providing Care to Vulnerable Adults or Children Bill Passed - House (58 - 39)
March 1, 2021 WA SB 5164 Authorizes Resentencing of Certain Individuals Charged With Robbery Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
Feb. 27, 2021 VA HB 2004 Requires Releasing Records From Closed Criminal Investigations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 27, 2021 VA SJ 272 Amends the Qualifications to Vote Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
Feb. 27, 2021 VA HJ 555 Extends Voting Rights to Citizens on Parole Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 27, 2021 VA HB 1909 Establishes Gun-Free Zones on School Board Property Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
Feb. 27, 2021 VA HJ 555 Extends Voting Rights to Citizens on Parole Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 40)
Feb. 27, 2021 VA SJ 272 Amends the Qualifications to Vote Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 40)
Feb. 27, 2021 WA HB 1054 Prohibits Chokeholds, No-Knock Warrants, and Other Police Tactics Bill Passed - House (54 - 43)
Feb. 26, 2021 MD SB 218 Extends the Earned Income Tax Credit to Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (91 - 44)
Feb. 25, 2021 NH HB 197 Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (206 - 144)
Feb. 25, 2021 National HR 5 Equality Act Bill Passed - House (224 - 206)
Feb. 25, 2021 MT HB 427 Prohibits Gender Transition Medical Procedures for Transgender Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
Feb. 25, 2021 WA SB 5051 Expands the Role of the State's Law Enforcement Oversight Agency Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 19)
Feb. 25, 2021 WA SB 5038 Prohibits Open Carry Near the State Capitol or Public Demonstrations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
Feb. 25, 2021 SD HB 1075 Repeals Any Federal or State Court Action Reducing Firearm or Ammunition Rights Bill Passed - House (59 - 7)
Feb. 25, 2021 National HR 5 Equality Act Bill Passed - House (224 - 206)
Feb. 25, 2021 GA HB 218 Requires the State to Recognize Gun Carry Permits from Other States Bill Passed - House (103 - 69)
Feb. 25, 2021 CA AB 133 Expands Medi-Cal Eligibility to Low-Income Adults Regardless of Immigration Status Bill Passed - House (56 - 18)
Feb. 25, 2021 OH HB 9 Prohibits Selling Dextromethorphan Without a Prescription Bill Passed - House (87 - 7)
Feb. 24, 2021 AR SB 24 Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws Bill Passed - House (72 - 23)
Feb. 24, 2021 AZ HB 2551 Authorizes Individuals with Concealed Carry Permits to Enter Most Buildings with Firearms Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
Feb. 24, 2021 CT HB 6515 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Hairstyle Bill Passed - House (138 - 9)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/01 SB 43 Establishes Churches With Schools Have the Right to Bear Arms Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
3/01 SB 215 Limits State and Local Governmental Authority Over a Religious Activity Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
3/01 HB 1411 Prohibits the Automatic Disqualification of Individuals with Criminal Records from Providing Care to Vulnerable Adults or Children Bill Passed - House (58 - 39)
3/01 SB 5164 Authorizes Resentencing of Certain Individuals Charged With Robbery Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
2/27 HB 2004 Requires Releasing Records From Closed Criminal Investigations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 15)
2/27 SJ 272 Amends the Qualifications to Vote Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
2/27 HJ 555 Extends Voting Rights to Citizens on Parole Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18)
2/27 HB 1909 Establishes Gun-Free Zones on School Board Property Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
2/27 HJ 555 Extends Voting Rights to Citizens on Parole Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 40)
2/27 SJ 272 Amends the Qualifications to Vote Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 40)
2/27 HB 1054 Prohibits Chokeholds, No-Knock Warrants, and Other Police Tactics Bill Passed - House (54 - 43)
2/26 SB 218 Extends the Earned Income Tax Credit to Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (91 - 44)
2/25 HB 197 Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (206 - 144)
2/25 HR 5 Equality Act Bill Passed - House (224 - 206)
2/25 HB 427 Prohibits Gender Transition Medical Procedures for Transgender Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
2/25 SB 5051 Expands the Role of the State's Law Enforcement Oversight Agency Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 19)
2/25 SB 5038 Prohibits Open Carry Near the State Capitol or Public Demonstrations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
2/25 HB 1075 Repeals Any Federal or State Court Action Reducing Firearm or Ammunition Rights Bill Passed - House (59 - 7)
2/25 HR 5 Equality Act Bill Passed - House (224 - 206)
2/25 HB 218 Requires the State to Recognize Gun Carry Permits from Other States Bill Passed - House (103 - 69)
2/25 AB 133 Expands Medi-Cal Eligibility to Low-Income Adults Regardless of Immigration Status Bill Passed - House (56 - 18)
2/25 HB 9 Prohibits Selling Dextromethorphan Without a Prescription Bill Passed - House (87 - 7)
2/24 SB 24 Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws Bill Passed - House (72 - 23)
2/24 HB 2551 Authorizes Individuals with Concealed Carry Permits to Enter Most Buildings with Firearms Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
2/24 HB 6515 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Hairstyle Bill Passed - House (138 - 9)

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